SM UB-23[Note 1] was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 30 April 1915 and launched on 9 October 1915. She was commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 13 March 1916 as SM UB-23. The submarine sank 51 ships in 21 patrols for a total of 33,880 gross register tons (GRT).[8] On 26 July 1917, UB-23 was badly damaged by a depth charge attack by HMS PC-60 off the Lizard; she put in at Corunna, Spain, on 29 July 1917 and was interned.[9] On 22 January 1919 she was surrendered to France in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany, and she was broken up in Cherbourg in July 1921.
 SM UB-45, a U-boat similar to UB-23
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | UB-23 |
| Ordered | 30 April 1915[1] |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg[1] |
| Yard number | 253[1] |
| Launched | 9 October 1915[1] |
| Commissioned | 13 March 1916[1] |
| Fate | Interned at Corunna, Spain, 29 July 1917 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Type UB II submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 2 officers, 21 men |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | 45-second diving time |
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 21 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editA Type UB II submarine, UB-23 had a displacement of 263 tonnes (259 long tons) when at the surface and 292 tonnes (287 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.13 m (118 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.36 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in). The submarine was powered by two Körting six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines each producing a total 280 metric horsepower (280 shp; 210 kW), a Siemens-Schuckert electric motor producing 206 kilowatts (276 shp; 280 PS), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.15 knots (16.95 km/h; 10.53 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.81 knots (10.76 km/h; 6.69 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 6,650 nautical miles (12,320 km; 7,650 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-23 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 5 cm (2.0 in) SK L/40 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 45-second dive time.[2]
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 1916 | Queen Bee |  United Kingdom
|
34 | Sunk |
| 5 July 1916 | Annie Anderson | United Kingdom
|
77 | Sunk |
| 5 July 1916 | Peep O’ Day | United Kingdom
|
52 | Sunk |
| 6 July 1916 | Girl Bessie | United Kingdom
|
62 | Sunk |
| 6 July 1916 | Nancy Hunnam | United Kingdom
|
58 | Sunk |
| 6 July 1916 | Newark Castle | United Kingdom
|
85 | Sunk |
| 6 July 1916 | Petunia | United Kingdom
|
58 | Sunk |
| 6 July 1916 | Watchful | United Kingdom
|
52 | Sunk |
| 24 July 1916 | Mary |  Norway
|
560 | Sunk |
| 26 July 1916 | Kentigern | Norway
|
796 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1916 | Agenda | Norway
|
226 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Andrew Ina | United Kingdom
|
50 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Good Design | United Kingdom
|
40 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Jane Stewart | United Kingdom
|
15 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Janet Overstone | United Kingdom
|
15 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Johan | United Kingdom
|
49 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Renown | United Kingdom
|
61 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Speedwell | United Kingdom
|
11 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Spero Meliora | United Kingdom
|
11 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1916 | Volunteer | United Kingdom
|
15 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1916 | General Archinard |  France
|
355 | Sunk |
| 6 September 1916 | Britannia | United Kingdom
|
48 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Emma | France
|
19 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Farfadet | France
|
17 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Jeanne D’Arc | France
|
17 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Leonine | France
|
20 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Marie Louise | France
|
157 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Mayo |  Spain
|
1,880 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1916 | Gemma |  Kingdom of Italy
|
3,111 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1916 | Remora | France
|
92 | Sunk |
| 21 October 1916 | Julia | France
|
166 | Sunk |
| 21 October 1916 | Snestad | Norway
|
2,350 | Sunk |
| 23 October 1916 | Alf |  Denmark
|
196 | Sunk |
| 23 October 1916 | Antoine Allosia | France
|
29 | Sunk |
| 23 October 1916 | Saint Pierre | France
|
151 | Sunk |
| 23 October 1916 | Venus II | Norway
|
784 | Sunk |
| 26 October 1916 | Saint Yves | France
|
165 | Sunk |
| 30 November 1916 | Gaete | France
|
170 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1916 | Harpalus | United Kingdom
|
1,445 | Sunk |
| 4 December 1916 | Nervion | Norway
|
1,921 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1916 | Conch | United Kingdom
|
5,620 | Sunk |
| 7 January 1917 | Brenda | United Kingdom
|
249 | Sunk |
| 2 February 1917 | Gabrielle | France
|
1,410 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1917 | Hestia |  Netherlands
|
959 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1917 | Lisbeth | Norway
|
1,621 | Sunk |
| 4 April 1917 | Trevier |  Belgium
|
3,006 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1917 | Marcel | Belgium
|
24 | Sunk |
| 31 May 1917 | Dirigo |  United States
|
3,004 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1917 | Prudence | United Kingdom
|
25 | Sunk |
| 5 June 1917 | Laura Ann | United Kingdom
|
116 | Sunk |
| 30 June 1917 | Ilston | United Kingdom
|
2,426 | Sunk |
| 4 July 1917 | Gloire à Dieu | France
|
419 | Damaged |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
edit- ^ a b c d e Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Voigt (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Heinz Ziemer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Herbert Lefholz". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Matthias Graf von Schmettow (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Ewald Niemer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Bendert 2000, p. 195.
- ^ "UB 23". Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 23". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.